Keenan v. United States

2 Hay. & Haz. 341, 1860 U.S. App. LEXIS 652

• Court: Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
• Decided: May 19, 1860
• Status: Published

Opinion

The indictment consisted of two counts.

The first, That Patrick Keenan, &c., did make an assault, and her, the said Eaura Swingman, then and there forcibly and against her will feloniously did ravish and carnally know against, &c.

The second, That the said Patrick Keenan, &c., was present aiding, abetting and assisting (certain persons mentioned) the felony and rape aforesaid to do and commit against, &c.

The jury brought in a verdict of guilty on the second count.

The United States, by their attorney, prayed judgment upon the verdict.

And the prisoner, by his attorneys, saith that the Court ought not to proceed to render j udgment because:

First. It does not appear from any law in force in this District that the prisoner is punishable under the second count of the indictment, and upon which alone he was found guilty by the jury.

Second. The Penitentiary Act of March 2, 1831, and under which the indictment seems to have been formed, punishes parties who commit rape and such as are accessories before the fact but is silent as to abettors of a rape.

Third. There is nothing in such Act, or any other Act in force in this District which embraces the charge upon which the prisoner was convicted.

On appeal to the Circuit Court, the Circuit Court affirmed the judgment of the Criminal Court, that Patrick Keenan suffer imprisonment in the penitentiary of the District of Columbia for the period of ten years.